Parents and vaccine choice advocates are raising concerns over children who receive COVID-19 vaccinations without parental consent..The mature minor doctrine says a doctor can confidentially administer a medical treatment to a minor if the physician deems the individual mature enough to know the risks and benefits. The doctrine emerged from court decisions and has been reinforced by legislation. This means adolescents across Canada can access birth control, abortions, cross-sex hormones, and vaccinations without the knowledge or consent of their parents..Ted Kuntz, president of Vaccine Choice Canada, told the Western Standard getting the jab is not a decision a teenager should make on their own..“Vaccinating children without the knowledge or consent of parents is both unethical and dangerous in that vaccine providers in schools do not have full knowledge of the medical histories of the children and their extended family. To expect a child to know and communicate this information is unreasonable and irresponsible. For some children, a vaccination given when medically contra-indicated or when there is a family history of adverse reactions to vaccination can result in serious injury or death of that child.”.On May 23, some as young as 12 years old received vaccinations at Toronto’s Nathan Phillips square as a DJ played and volunteers handed out free water and ice cream and water. Kuntz said COVID-19 shots are not about fun and games..“The COVID-19 vaccine products…have emergency authorization only. None of the COVID-19 vaccines have completed Phase III safety trials and received formal Health Canada approval. It is the opinion of Vaccine Choice Canada that to expect a child to understand the implications of injecting an experimental product when the safety and efficacy are yet to be determined is unethical, immoral and criminal,” Kuntz said..“These actions are an intentional and deliberate means to usurp parental authority and to give the medical industry the power to coerce children into making health care decisions that may conflict with family values and health requirements.”.In Regina, Rob Howard has three children aged 12 to 16. He told the Western Standard that parental consent is a safeguard for teens..“The social pressure they feel is unreal. The common narrative is that if they don’t get vaccinated, they are selfish and fearful. If they do get vaccinated, they are heroic, normal and following science. After a long discussion with my 16-year-old, I was able to isolate her single, biggest motivation for wanting to be vaccinated: ‘I want people to feel safe around me’… she believes her friend circle might shrink if she cannot positively affirm having been vaccinated. The truth is, it is nobody else’s business,” Howard said..“As a parent, it terrifies me that any of my children could be suffering life-threatening side effects from a secret procedure or treatment and I wouldn’t notice simply because I was not watching for signs because I was completely unaware.”.Stanford University professor Dr. Jay Bhattacharya believes COVID-19 vaccines are a bad bet for the young. The epidemiologist told the Western Standard, “I don’t think children should be given the vaccine because on net it does not benefit them…In the trials, roughly 5 in 1000 children 12 to 15 years old had a serious adverse event. However, the risk of a child dying from COVID infection is much less than 1 in 1000. With teenagers, the risk is a bit more, but not substantially so.”.Constitutional lawyer Rocco Galati believes the mature minor doctrine has been misused. In a video on the Vaccine Choice website, he said, “The mature minor doctrine cannot override the wishes and consent of the parents outside of the emergency threat of imminent harm or death. Vaccinations do not fall under the Mature Minor doctrine.”.Harding is a Western Standard correspondent based in Saskacthewan
